Tub unit and suspension basic structure for agitator washer



W W66 w. A. WASEMANN 3,247,689

TUB UNIT AND SUSPENSION BASIC STRUCTURE FOR AGITATOR WASHER Filed May 7, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 WITNESSES INVENTOR g0%( W 7 William AWasemunn April 26, 1966 w w s 3,247,689

TUB UNIT AND SUSPENSION BASIC STRUCTURE FOR AGITATOR WASHER 2 Sheets-Sheet .2

Filed May '7, 1964 Fig. 2.

United States Patent Ofiice 3,247,689 Patented Apr. 26, 1966 3,247,689 TUB UNl'l AND SUSPENSION BASIC STRUCTURE FOR AGITATGR WASHER Wiiliam A. Wasemann, Mansfield, Ohio, assignor to Westinghouse Electric Corporation, East Pittsburgh, Pin, a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed May 7, 1964, Ser. No. 365,763 8 Claims. (Cl. 6823) The present invention relates to agitator washing machines and more particularly to an improved center post agitator washing machine.

The so-called center post agitator washing machine having a spin basket within the tub is Well known and various arrangements to provide for the spinning of unbalanced loads are also well known. Such arrangements usually require that the tub with enclosed agitator and spin basket be resiliently supported within the washer cabinet structure. In order that the servicing problems he kept to a minimum, the structural arrangements of the resiliently supported tub with its drive transmission and motor should be as simple, sturdy and accessible as possible.

It is a principal object of the present invention to provide an improved center post agitator and spin washing machine having a simple yet rugged supporting structure for the tub that is to be resiliently supported within the washing machine cabinet.

Another important object of the invention is to provide an improved arrangement of resiliently supported tub such that the motor and driving mechanisms are readily accessible for adjustment and servicing.

In accordancewith the invention, the tub with its enclosed movable agitator and rotatable spin basket is secured to an upper end surface of a transmission housing also having a lower end surface from which is extended an input driving shaft. A plurality of elongated brace members are secured at one of their respective ends to respective spaced points about the periphery of the tub and at their other respective ends to a single pivot plate that is mounted for pivotal movement on the bottom frame of the washing machine cabinet. The lower end surface of the transmission housing is suitably arranged to be secured to the elongated braces at points intermediate their ends and resilient means is connected between the braces and the cabinet structure in a manner to normally constrain the tub to a position within the cabinet such that the center post within the tub is essentially vertical and the bottom Wall of the tub is generally horizontal. The drive motor is supported on a motor plate also extending from the lower surface of the transmission housing. Driving means which may include a clutch and pulley on the lower end of the motor shaft is connected by a belt to a driven pulley on the output shaft extending from the lower end surface of the transmission housing such that the pulleys and belt may be readily accessible for servicing. In order to lessen the shaking effect due to the spinning of unbalanced loads within the spin basket, a ballast weight is secured to the rim of the non-rotatable tub and the aforesaid structure of the invention for supporting the tub and motor on a single pivot plate within the cabinet is particularly desirable with the ballast weight arrangement as described.

Further objects and features with the attendant advantages of the invention will be apparent with reference to the following specification and drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view partly broken away and partly in section, and

FIG. 2 is a sectional view on the line 22 in the direction of the arrows.

Referring to the drawings, the washing machine cabinet includes a top wall 10 and lid 11, a peripheral sidewall such as the side wall 12 and a bottom frame structure 14 including a pivot dome supporting surface 15 which is more fully described in the copending patent application Serial No. 398,210, filed Sept. 22, 1964, and assigned to.

the same assignee as the subject invention. A non-rotatable tub 16 having a rotatable spin basket 17 and movable agitator 18 enclosed therein is resiliently supported within the washing machine cabinet by the arrangement of the invention now to be described in detail.

A transmission for providing the desired selective movements of the spin basket 17 and agitator 18 is housed within the transmission housing 29 and since the details of the transmission gearing within the housing 20 form no part of the present invention, they will. not be described further. The transmission housing 20 :is provided with an upper end surface 21 from which the center post including the agitator shaft 22 and the concentric coaxial spin shaft 23 extend. The transmission housing 2% also includes a lower end surface or closure 24 from which extends the input shaft 25.

The non-rotatable tub is secured by suitable fastenings such as the bolts 30, 31 to the upper surface 21 of the transmission housing 20 with the center post extending within the tub. A plurality of elongated side brace members 3244 are provided with one of their respective ends secured at respective shaped points 35-37 about the peripheral side wall 3S of the tub 15 whose bottom Wall 39 is secured to the transmission housing 2%) by a plurality of bolts such as the bolts 3h, 31 as previously described. The other respective ends of the braces 32 4 are secured to a pivot plate 49 that is pivotally journalled on the pivot dome 15 with friction padding ll interposed as shown to suitably restrain the movement of the tub 16 in response to unbalanced load forces during spin drying.

A feature of the invention is the provision of the extensions of the lower end surface 24 of the transmission housing 2.0 such as the extensions or legs -47 which are secured to the respective braces 32-34- at points-interme: diate their end portions. Spring means such as shown at 48, 49 and 49a are connected between the washer cabinet and the respective braces 32-3 l in a manner to norm-ally constrain the tub 16 to assume a position within the cabinet such that the bottom tub wall 39 is generally horizontal and the center post shafts 22, 23 are generally vertical.

A motor support plate 50 is secured to extend from the lower end surface 24 of the transmission housing 20 and an electric motor 51 is mounted thereon as shown. Slotted bolt holes 5 2, 53 enables the position of the motor 51 to be adjusted to adjust the tension of the belt 54 connecting the motor clutch and drive pulley 55 to the driven pulley 56 on the lower end of the tranmission input driving shaft 25. Brace rods 57, 58 are connected between the hub 16 and the outer ends of the motor support plate 50 as shown. It should now be apparent that the motor and transmission mechanisms as arranged by this invention are readily accessible for service and that the transmission housing 20 as provided with the upper and lower end surfaces 21, 2.4 respectively interconnecting the tub 16 and side braces 3232 to the pivot plate 40 comprising an extremely simple yet sturdy arrangement that is particularly desirable when the tub rim ballast weight 60 is used as shown.

Various modifications will occur to those skilled in the art.

I claim as my invention:

1. An agitator Washing machine, comprising, a cabinet structure having a bottom frame, non-rotatable tub having a bottom wall and a peripheral side wall, a transmission enclosed in a housing and having a center post extending from an upper end surface of the housing and an input drive shaft extending from a lower end surface of the housing, means securing the bottom wall of said tub to said upper end surface with said center post extending within said tub, a pivot plate, a plurality of elongated support braces fastened at one of their respective ends to respective spaced points about the peripheral wall of said tub and at their respective other ends to said pivot plate, means to support said pivot plate for pivotal .movement on the bottom frame of said cabinet, resilient means interconnecting said cabinet structure and respective ones of said braces to constrain said tub and center post to assume a generally vertical position within said cabinet, and means to secure the lower end surface of said transmission housing to said braces at points intermediate their ends.

2. An agitator washing machine comprising, a cabinet structure having a bottom frame, a non-rotatable tub having a bottom wall and a peripheral side wall, a transmission enclosed in a housing and having a center post extending from an upper end surface of the housing and an input drive shaft extending from a lower end surface of the housing, means securing the bottom wall of said tub to said upper end surface with said center post extending within said tub, a pivot plate, a plurality of elongated support braces fastened at one of their respective ends to respective spaced points about the peripheral wall of said tub and at their respective other ends to said pivot plate, friction damper means to support said pivot plate for restrained pivotal movement on the bottom frame of said cabinet, resilient means interconnecting said cabinet structure and respective ones of said braces to constrain said tub and center post to assume a generally vertical position within said cabinet, and means to secure the lower end surface of said transmission housing to said braces at points intermediate their ends.

3. An agitator washing machine comprising, a cabinet structure having a bottom frame, a non-rotatable tub having a bottom wall and a peripheral side wall, a transmission enclosed in a housing and having a center post extending from an upper end surface of the housing and an input drive shaft extending from a lower end surface of the housing, means securing the bottom wall of said tub to said upper end surface said center post extending within said tub, a pivot plate, a plurality of elongated support braces fastened at one of their respective ends to respective spaced points about the peripheral wall of said tub and at their respective other ends to said pivot plate, means to support said pivot plate for pivotal movement on the bottom frame of said cabinet, resilient means inter-connecting said cabinet structure and respective ones of said braces to constrain said tub and center post to assume a generally vertical position within said cabinet, means to secure the lower end surface of said transmission housing to said braces at points intermediate their ends, a drive motor mounted on a motor support bracket extending from said lower end surface of said transmission housing, and drive means interconnecting said drive motor and the input shaft extending from said lower end surface.

4. An agitator washing machine comprising a cabinet structure having a bottom frame, a non-rotatable tub having a bottom wall and a peripheral side wall, a transmission enclosed in a housing and having a center post extending from an upper end surface of the housing and an input drive shaft extending from a lower end surface of the housing, means securing the bottom wall of said tub to said upper end surface with said center post extending within said tub, a pivot plate, a plurality of elongated support braces fastened at one of their respective ends to respective spaced points about the peripheral wall of said tub and at their respective other ends to said pivot plate, friction damper means to support said pivot plate for restrained pivotal movement on ,the bottom frame of said cabinet, resilient means interconnecting said cabinet structure and respective ones of said braces to constrain said tub and center post to assume a generally vertical position within said cabinet, means to secure the lower end surface of said transmission housing to said braces at points intermediate their ends, a drive motor mounted on a motor support bracket extending from said lower end surface of said transmission housing, and drive means interconnecting said drive motor and the input shaft extending from said lower end surface.

5. An agitator washing machine comprising, a cabinet structure having a bottom frame, a non-rotatable tub having a bottom wall and a peripheral side wall, a ballast weight secured to said peripheral side wall, a transmission enclosed in a housing and having a center post extending from an upper end surface of the housing and an input drive shaft extending from a lower end surface of the housing, means securing the bottom wall of said tub to said upper end surface with said center post extending within said tub, a pivot plate, a plurality of elongated support braces fastened at one of their respective ends to respective spaced points about the peripheral wall of said tub and at their respective other ends to said pivot plate, means to support said pivot plate for pivotal movement on the bottom frame of said cabinet, resilient means interconnecting said cabinet structure and respective ones of said braces to constrain said tub and center post to assume a generally vertical position within said cabinet, and means to secure the lower end surface of said transmission housing to said braces at points intermediate their ends.

6. An agitator washing machine comprising, a cabinet structure having a bottom frame, a non-rotatable tub having a bottom wall and a peripheral side wall, a ballast weight secured to said peripheral side wall, a transmission enclosed in a housing and having a center post extending from an upper end surface of the housing and an input drive shaft extending from a lower end surface of the housing, means securing the bottom wall of said tub to said upper end surface with said center post extending within said tub, a pivot plate, a plurality of elongated support braces fastened at one of their respective ends to respective spaced points about the peripheral wall of said tub and at their respective other ends to said pivot plate, friction damper means to support said pivot plate for restrained pivotal movement on the bottom frame of said cabinet, resilient means interconnecting said cabinet structure and respective ones of said braces to constrain said tub and center post to assume a generally vertical position within said cabinet, and means to secure the lower end surface of said transmission housing to said braces at points intermediate their ends.

7. An agitator washing machine comprising, a cabinet structure having a bottom frame, a non-rotatable tub having a bottom wall and a peripheral side wall, a ballast weight secured to said peripheral side Wall, a transmission enclosed in a housing and having a center post extending from an upper end surface of the housing and an input drive shaft extending from a lower end surface of the housing, means securing the bottom wall of said tub to said upper end surface with said center post extending within said tub, a pivot plate, a plurality of elongated support braces fastened at one of their respective ends to respective spaced points about the peripheral wall of said tub and at their respective other ends to said pivot plate, means to support said pivot plate for pivotal movement on the bottom frame of said cabinet, resilient means interconnecting said cabinet structure and respective ones of said braces to constrain said tub and center post to assume a generally vertical position within said cabinet, means to secure the lower end surface of said transmission housing to said braces at points intermediate their ends, a drive motor mounted on a motor support bracket extending from said lower end surface of said transmission housing, and drive means interconnecting said drive motor and the input shaft extending from said lower end surface.

8. An agitator washing machine comprising, a cabinet structure having a bottom frame, a non-rotatable tub having a bottom wall and a peripheral side wall, a ballast weight secured to said peripheral side wall, a transmission enclosed in a housing and having a center post extending from an upper end surface of the housing and an input drive shaft extending from a lower end surface of the housing, means securing the bottom Wall of said tub to said braces at points intermediate their ends, a drive motor mounted on a motor support bracket extending from said lower end surface of said transmission housing, and drive means interconnecting said drive motor and said upper end surface with said center post extending 5 the input shaft extending from said lower end surface.

within said tub, a pivot plate, a plurality of elongated support braces fastened at one of their respective ends to respective spaced points about the peripheral wall of said tub and at their respective other ends to said pivot plate, friction damper means to support said pivot plate for restrained pivotal movement on the bottom frame of said cabinet, resilient means interconnecting said cabinet structure and respective ones of said braces to constrain said tub and center post to assume a generally vertical position within saidcabinet, means to secure the lower end surface of said transmission housing to References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 15 WALTER A. SCI-I'EEL, Primary Examiner. 

1. AN AGITATOR WASHING MACHINE, COMPRISING, A CABINET STRUCTURE HAVING A BOTTOM FRAME, NON-ROTATABLE TUB HAVING A BOTTOM WALL AND A PERIPHERAL SIDE WALL, A TRANSMISSION ENCLOSED IN A HOUSING AND HAVING A CENTER POST EXTENDING FROM AN UPPER END SURFACE OF THE HOUSING AND AN IMPUT DRIVE SHAFT EXTENDING FROM A LOWER END SURFACE OF THE HOUSING, MEANS SECURING THE BOTTOM WALL OF SAID TUBE TO SAID UPPER END SURFACE WITH SAID CENTER POST EXTENDING WITHIN SAID TUB, A PIVOT PLATE, A PLURALITY OF ELONGATED SUPPORT BRACES FASTENED AT ONE OF THEIR RESPECTIVE ENDS TO RESPECTIVE SPACED POINTS ABOUT THE PERIPHERAL WALL OF SAID TUBE AND AT THEIR RESPECTIVE OTHER ENDS TO SAID PIVOT PLATE, MEANS TO SUPPORT SAID PIVOT PLATE FOR PIVOTAL MOVEMENT ON THE BOTTOM FRAME OF SAID CABINET, RESILIENT MEANS INTERCONNECTING SAID CABINET STRUCTURE AND RESPECTIVE ONES OF SAID BRACES TO CONSTRAIN SAID TUB AND CENTER POST TO ASSUME A GENERALLY VERTICAL POSITION WITHIN SAID CABINET, AND MEANS TO SECURE THE LOWER END SURFACE OF SAID TRANSMISSION HOUSING TO SAID BRACES AT POINTS INTERMEDIATE THEIR ENDS. 